PBEM: Grotius (Axis) vs. Rome (Allied)

[Grotius]

The Russian Front as of Fall 1945:

[Svend Karlson]

ORIGINAL: Grotius

By the way, Svend, I meant to say that I'm glad you're enjoying the AAR. I wish I could get Rome to post his thoughts here. On the other hand, in his absence, I've been increasingly open about my observations.

I'm learning from you as I go along [;)]

In my AAR I'm describing what is happening but avoiding sharing my strategic intentions too. You never know who might be lurking . . .

[Grotius]

Winter 1946: As we enter our final year, I still hold Kharkhov and Kiev; all of Western Europe, plus Gibraltar and Suez (though nothing else in North Africa); and, in the Far East, the Dutch East Indies, the Solomons, and as of this turn New Caledonia. I have 62 production. I think both Germany and Japan will survive to Fall 1946.

Not that all is rosy. Rome has pushed me out of Burma and Siam entirely, and he will easily roll over Indochina and coastal China with his ground troops -- but he needs to get his navy into the western Pacific to threaten the Southern Resource Area or the Home Islands. I have spotted his carriers moving slowly west from Pearl Harbor, but I'll be surprised if he can penetrate my naval/air defenses to get to the Home Islands in four turns.

I have a whole bunch of screenshots to share. First, a couple "map" shots; then some unit and research screens. First, here's the situation in southeast Asia:

[Grotius]

Here's New Caledonia, which I conquered this turn. I also managed to repair the resource there, which will help make up the shortfall resulting from the loss of Siam, Burma, and (soon) Malaya and southern China.

[Grotius]

Here are the units damaged or destroyed so far. Note that my U-Boat campaign has been quite successful.

[Grotius]

Here's a look at my sub research, which helps explain my success. Rome did research ASW up to 3 for his Light Fleets, which has slowed me down a bit, but even so two of my subs can usually take out a WA transport with one light fleet escort.

[Grotius]

Likewise, I've ruled the roost of tank research -- although Rome has lately managed almost to catch up. If you look back at the "unit kills" screen, you'll see that the ratio of German to Russian tank casualties favors the Axis.

[Grotius]

Fighter research. My German fighters enjoy air superiority. My Japanese fighters are doing OK too. Rome did invest in flak air attack and in his fleet's flak, which has curbed my efforts to attack his navy with my air units.

[Grotius]

Finally, infantry research. My German infantry is fine, but Japan is another story. Rome's research into infantry and armor means he's now steamrollering Japan on the ground in Asia. It's my air force and navy that will protect the Home Islands, not my infantry. I hope.

[Grotius]

Spring 1946: We had our battle of Midway! Actually, it was the Battle of Wake Island, but other than the location, the outcome was eerily close to historical. Rome sank 3 of my IJN CVs and damaged a fourth; I didn't scratch any of his. What's odd is that when I ordered the attack, the popup showed a predicted victory of about 3 Japanese losses to 8 Allied losses. The actual results were much different! In fact, I don't even see a record of my carrier aircraft attacking his CVs. It seems I attacked just one heavy fleet, and its AA plus Rome's CAGs tore my planes up. Here's a look at Rome's CV Task Force after the battle:




As you can see, even though I sent in five planes (one Betty and four CAGs), I attacked only three planes and one heavy fleet. I guess I learned the hard way that the popup isn't always right. Here's the resulting damage:

[Grotius]

Still, there was plenty of good news too. I held off further air attacks in the west, and there still hasn't been a successful D-Day there. With three WA turns left to go, that's pretty good news. And then there was this development in the South Pacific.

Incidentally, after this screenshot, I moved the infantry up to NSW to defend my new acquisition. I then moved in some supply, and for some reason I couldn't "take back" the supply I'd moved in when I realized I wanted to move in a land unit instead. So I shrugged and repaired two resources instead, which was nice. My total production is still around 60.

[von_Schmidt]

ORIGINAL: Grotius
Spring 1946: We had our battle of Midway! Actually, it was the Battle of Wake Island, but other than the location, the outcome was eerily close to historical. Rome sank 3 of my IJN CVs and damaged a fourth; I didn't scratch any of his. What's odd is that when I ordered the attack, the popup showed a predicted victory of about 3 Japanese losses to 8 Allied losses. The actual results were much different! In fact, I don't even see a record of my carrier aircraft attacking his CVs. It seems I attacked just one heavy fleet, and its AA plus Rome's CAGs tore my planes up. Here's a look at Rome's CV Task Force after the battle:

I guess the combat predictor assumes all selected units will attack and defend. In naval combat, the number of *actual* fleet participants is a random number between 1 and the highest number of fleets present.

In this case, the roll must have been 1 (nasty), leading to 1 HF defending but all defending and attacking air taking part; and the reaction strike demolished your carriers.

I wonder if it would have helped to hold some CAG's back for defence and a possible second attack on the same target, perhaps accompanied by your HF's?

von Schmidt

=========================

"The fierce glory that plays on red, triumphant bayonets dazzles the observer, nor does he care to look behind to where along a thousand miles of rail, road, and river, the convoys are crawling to the front in unnoticed succession"

-- Winston Leonard Spencer Churchill,
The River War (1899)

[Grotius]

I wonder if it would have helped to hold some CAG's back for defence and a possible second attack on the same target, perhaps accompanied by your HF's?

Yep, this would probably have been a good idea. Not sure about using my Heavy Fleets, though; that's one area in which Rome has invested much more heavily in tech than I have, and as a result I'm outclassed. I have to use torpedoes to stop his Heavy Fleets.

Another good idea would've been to wait and let him come after me -- which was my original plan! I only attacked because I sent in one Betty, couldn't "Take back" its move, and decided to support it so that it wouldn't die in vain. I should've just let it die. As is, I've saved Rome a turn: now instead of attacking my CVs, he can concentrate on attacking other assets and getting to the Home Islands ASAP.

One more good reason for me to wait: my CAGs were about to upgrade one tech level in Evasion. I had all SORTS of reasons not to attack. Sigh!

I still am optimistic about victory, though. Rome's running out of time.

[Grotius]

End of Spring, 1946: Almost two years after the historical D-Day, the Western Allies have landed in Western France! Rome used an impressive combination of air, naval and land units to oust my biggest garrison on the map -- some 15 units, including crack fighters, armor, and infantry.

Elsewhere, I repulsed Rome's first assault on Suez. I still hold Iraq and Saudi Arabia. In Australia, though, Rome has reclaimed New South Wales; I still hold Victoria, though.

Here's a look at D-Day:

[Grotius]

Meanwhile, in the Pacific, Rome's carrier force has bypassed my carefully built strongholds in places like the Marianas and is closing in on the Home Islands. Transports, some already loaded with troops, are following behind his fleet. My aircraft picked off one or two unloaded transports, and I managed to attrit one of his CAGs with my fighters, but otherwise I'm circling the wagons around Japan.

Here's a look at the path of Rome's ships, chosen to avoid my strongpoints. Still, he can't avoid dealing with the artillery, flak, and aircraft stationed in the Bonins and the Home Islands themselves, and time is short.

[dobeln]

Very nice and entertaining AAR!

[VonTed]

Yes, very well done. Too bad there was not a good way to show a screen of only what can be seen by the enemy (to protect your classified information) And good luck!

A thought though..... why are you repairing resources (that cost 5 to fix each) when you only have four turns left (i.e. you will not see the payback)?

[Grotius]

Rome has posted only once or twice here, so I'd probably be safe posting open shots of all my troops. But loose lips sink ships.

As for repair of resources, you're right, at some point it's not worth it. But in this case, I had unused supply in the Solomons anyway, and a transport link to my newly-acquired resources in Australia, so I figured why not. Essentially I trade 10 supply in repair in Oz for the chance to make one more unit in the Home Islands. Also, by repairing the resources, I keep the ratio of Allied to Axis production at less than 200%; in another turn, that ratio will be the decisive factor in the scope of victory. So repairing the resource makes it more imperative that he expend troops and supply taking it back.

Besides, it was fun to repair it and use Aussie resources.

[Grotius]

Summer 1946: I threw Rome's D-Day invasion force back into the English Channel. All my troops in Spain, the Netherlands, and Southern France, together with supporting air, participated in the attack. This pretty much guaranteed the survival of Germany. In the Far East, Rome has destroyed most of the IJN Navy, but it's going to be too little, too late: he's run out of time to take the Home Islands.

Here's a look at Western Europe in Fall 1946.

[Grotius]

Fall 1946: The war has ended! Germany and Japan survived, and while they had each been whittled down, they retained enough production to achieve a Decisive Victory for the Axis. Thanks to Rome for a great game!

As we look back over the game, both Rome and I agree that my conquest of Gibraltar, together with teched-up German armor in Russia, were very significant factors. It's hard to know how to defend Gibraltar, really. Rome and I are in a new tripartite PBEM in which Rome is the Axis, and he just took Spain; we'll see if I can reinforce Gibraltar enough to hold it in that game. I also think my U-Boats slowed him down, though Rome says they were nothing more than a nuisance, and he certainly did seem to have no trouble replacing damaged and destroyed transports. It may be that the supply rules confounded him more than my U-Boats.

Anyway, when I have a bit more time, I'll post a couple more screenshots of research, production, the strategic map, etc.